the eater young guns class of 2013 revealed

June 20, 2013

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Source: Eater

Ladies and gentleman, it is time. We are pleased to announce the Eater Young Guns Class of 2013, a group of 15 of the most distinguished young chefs, restaurateurs, sommeliers, and hospitality industry professionals in the country. These are the junior statesmen of the culinary world who have most distinguished themselves this year, and who are its next stars. Over the past two months, you've met many of them, and you'll meet the rest this week.

The class of 15 is comprised of four women and 11 men; seven chefs, three beverage pros, two pastry chefs, and three front-of-house leaders. The youngest on the list just turned 25 (Jayce McConnell). The oldest, with just four years in the business, is 38 (Ryan Lachaine). They represent myriad styles and 15 cities: Austin, Boston, Alexandria, Houston, Nashville, Chicago, Charleston, Oxford, Madison, Seattle, New York, Houston, Los Angeles, and the areas outside San Francisco and Minneapolis.

The Eater Young Guns Class of 2013 will be celebrated at a gala event in Los Angeles on Monday, June 24. Young Guns Eve, a public tasting event featuring many of the winning chefs, goes down the night before on June 23. Tickets are still available.

Without further ado, they are:

Shion Aikawa, 27

What he does: Director of Operations, Ramen Tatsu-Ya, Austin, TXWhy he's an Eater Young Gun: Last year, Aikawa left Los Angeles and a cushy corporate gig—company card and all—to move back to his hometown and teach Texans how to eat, and appreciate, ramen. It was a gamble, but Aikawa says he's the kind of guy who doesn't like to have regrets. And he knew he would regret not helping his brother launch Austin's first-ever brick-and-mortar ramen shop, the white hot Ramen Tatsu-Ya. —Andrea Grimes, Eater Austin